Page 15 of The Queen of Ash and Magic

“Yes, I heard that, asshole. I heard everything. You two fought all fucking week and Julianna was the one being compassionate for a change,” I scold him as he stands. I push him back into a wall to get in his face. I’m slightly about confused how we are in my room when we were just in the ceremonial hall. “Where is she? Where did you take her?”

“To the dungeon. She marked you Drake,” he frowns.

“She’s my mate, you idiot!” I scream at him.

“Fuck, that’s why I’ve been protective of her,” Julianna says with a sigh. “I am instinctively drawn to protect the queen.”

“How long? How long has she been in the dungeon?” I demand.

“A few hours. You were moved back here,” Eyrx says.

“If anyone has harmed my mate, I will have your fucking head for it,” I growl at him.

“Drake, I’m so sorry,” he says carefully.

I resist the urge to put his head through the wall and turn around to leave the room. “Drake,” Julianna says, stepping in front of me.

“Move,” I say through gritted teeth.

“Don’t hurt your mate, Drake. Don’t put all your anger into her,” she says.

“She is my mate. I can do as I please,” I say as I push past her and storm off to the dungeon.

I find her curled up in a cell, but I take a second to look at her in the dark before ripping the door open. The chains clatter to the floor and she doesn’t even flinch. She has long brown hair and a small-framed body. She is much smaller than I am, but it won’t stop me from taking what’s mine.

Chapter Eight

Lysa

I am curled upin the cot and I haven’t stopped crying. I didn’t mean to do that to the king. I deserve to be down here for hurting him. I just miss my little bear. I didn’t realize until now how much comfort it brings me. I hear someone down here with me, but I don’t move. Even when the door is torn off and thrown, I don’t move.

“Get up,” a man growls. It’s not a voice I recognize but it instantly sparks something in my brain. I immediately get up but bow my head when I see it’s the King. He still has my fresh bite in his chest and I feel horrible. I don’t know what came over me to do that.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness. I’m so sorry,” I say tearfully.

“A witch with no powers,” he says as he roughly lifts my chin to look at me.

“Yes Sir,” I say quietly. “I deserve to die for what I did. I’m so sorry. Idon’t know why… I’m sorry.”

He cocks his head to the side in confusion as he looks at me. “We are mates,” he says simply. “You marked me.”

“I… what?” I ask.

“You know what mates are, yes?” he asks.

“Uh… no,” I say.

“We are bound for life; instinctively drawn to one another, no matter what,” he says as he wraps his large hand around my throat and pulls me against his chest. “You’re mine, but you’re a witch.”

“I know. I’m useless,” I say. “I don’t want to die but… you deserve a mate of your own kind.”

“Are you too good for me?” he asks, tightening his grip.

“No. No. No. You deserve better. I want you to be happy. I am useless. I offer you nothing,” I say. It sounds like I am pleading for him to kill me at this point. Anything would be better than the shame I feel.

“You’re mine,” he growls and pushes me back against the wall. He leans in and smells my neck before dragging his teeth across my skin. I am trembling under his hand. I would let this man rip my throat out with his teeth just to be able to feel his touch. “Run, mate. Run so I can take you.”

“Run? Where?” I ask when he steps back. “What do Ineed to run for…”

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